Episode 77 - How to use Conditional Forms (tara, to, ba, nara)

Learn Japanese with Masa sensei! - A podcast by Masa Sensei - Sundays

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- Check my video for more details! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVxs9n2yUyY ========================================================== …と: Constant Results and Actual Conditions The function is to express constant results. The conjugation is just to attach the plain (dictionary) form to と. When you use nouns and na-adjectives, you need to attach だ like 春だと. By constant results, we mean that it’s an unchanged fact, when you do A, aways B happens. You can use this for natural phenomenons, habitual actions, programmed actions, etc. 雨が降ると涼しくなります。 ame ga furu to suzushiku narimasu. If [it] rains, [it] will get cool. まっすぐ行くと、郵便局があります。 massugu iku to yuubinkyoku ga arimasu. If you go straight there is a post office. …ば: Hypothetical Conditions The function is to express hypothetical conditions like if a hypothesis comes true, X will happen. This indicate that you place priority on the conditional clauses rather than the main clauses. 薬を飲めば治ると思います。 kusuri o nomeba naoru to omoimasu [I] think [I] will recover if [I] take the medicine. 夏になれば、海に行きたいです。 natsu ni nareba umi ni ikitai desu I want to go to the beach when it's summer …たら: One-Time Results The function is to express a one-time or a particular result. This has the widest usage and thus we can say たら is most common to express conditionals. The conjugation is to attach ら to the ta-form. By using this, you can express both actual and hypothetical condition. 夏が来たら日本に行きます。 natsu ga kitara nihon ni ikimasu. If the summer comes, [I] will go to Japan. 薬を飲んだら治ると思います。 kusuri o nondara naoru to omoimasu [I] think [I] will recover if [I] take the medicine. …なら: Contextual Conditions The function is to respond to someone in a given context. Regarding the other conditional words, you can set a context by yourself. However, you can use …なら only when given a context.  The conjugation is just to attach なら to the plain (dictionary) form or the ta-form, which is the only one case that you can attach conditional words to the two forms.  日本語を話すことができる人がいますか? nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekiru hito ga imasu ka? Is there a person who can speak Japanese? 日本語ならトムさんが話すことができますよ! nihongo nara tomu san ga hanasu koto ga dekimasu yo! If [you’re talking about] Japanese, Tom can speak [it]. 日本語の本を読みたいです。 nihongo no hon o yomitai desu [I] want to try to read Japanese book. 読みたいなら私のを貸しましょうか? yomitai nara watashi no o kashimashou ka? If [you] want to read, shall [I] lend mine? =============================================== Check out my Youtube Channel! Wanna support me? ===============================================